Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan and Dr. Tony Klug: The situation in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli tragedy has never been as dire or dangerous as it is today.
Never before has there been greater clarity about the essential components of a future peace settlement. Israel appears vindictive: more hostages could have been freed in the Gaza war. Israel's War Cabinet has also abandoned its longstanding strategy of strengthening Hamas' rule in Gaza Strip in order to prevent a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under unified leadership.